Huge financial boost

Workers at a global firm have honoured the memory of one of their employees who died of
meningitis by raising more than £2,200 for Meningitis Now

The fantastic fundraising effort by global financial services company Computershare was boosted by the encouragement of Bristol-based employee Hollie Phillips, who herself contracted the disease as a child.

Hollie, 27, is employed as a customer service advisor at the company’s Bristol office where she inspired her fellow workers to raise £460 through a series of bake sales.

And in the meantime, the workers at the firm’s Crossflatt’s offices in West Yorkshire collected over £1,750. Their efforts in memory of employee Julie Irving, who died of meningococcal septicaemia in 2018, included a tombola, books sales, and dress down days.

Hollie, who lives with her family in the Filton area of Bristol, spent three months at Bristol Royal Infirmary after also contracting meningococcal septicaemia. She suffered from temporary deafness and blindness but thankfully made a full recovery.

She said: “I proposed Meningitis Now for a local fundraiser because the cause is so close to my heart. I am really pleased Computershare has raised such a significant sum for the charity.”

Nick Oldfield, Global Head of Mortgage Servicing at the firm, added: “We were delighted to raise money for a charity that is self-funded but that carries out such vital work to raise awareness of this life-threatening condition and provides help and support for the people and families it affects.

“Computershare’s strong culture of compassion and giving means many from amongst our staff choose to raise money for good causes such as Meningitis Now – and as a company we are only too pleased to support them”.

“It’s always great to hear about our supporters and the way they have raised money for us, especially when there are personal meningitis stories behind it,” he said.

“Hopefully Hollie and Julie’s family and friends can draw comfort from the fact that the donation will be put to great use raising awareness of meningitis signs and symptoms, helping support those that have been impacted by the disease, and for research.”